Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Board

Conseil du musée-village du patrimoine de Cumberland

 

Minutes 6/ ProcÈs-verbal 6

 

Tuesday, 29 June 2004 - 7:30 p.m.

Le mardi 29 juin 2004 - 19 h 30

 

Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

Musée-village du patrimoine de Cumberland

2940, ch. Old Montreal Road

 

 

Present / Présents :    Fran Stronach (Chair / Présidente)

                                    Randall Ash, (Vice-Chair / Vice-président)

                                    Dan Brazeau, Jennifer Hunt-Beauchamp, Councillor Rob Jellett, Jeannie Smith, Malcolm Whittall

 

Absent / Absents :      Walter Cibischino (Regrets)

 

Others Present / Autres personnes présentes:

Gilles Séguin, Program Manager, Heritage Development,
People Services Department

Elmer Pilon, Manager, Museum Services

Glenn Charron, Collections Officer, Museum Services

M. J. Beauregard, Coordinator, Secretariat Services,
Corporate Services Department

 

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

DÉCLARATIONS D’INTÉRÊT      

 

No declarations of interest were filed.

 

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

RATIFICATION DU PROCÈS-VERBAL

 

Minutes 5, 31 May 2004.

 

                                                                                                            CONFIRMED

 

 

REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA

EXAMEN ET ADOPTION DE L’ORDRE DU JOUR

 

The Board agreed to add two items requested by Member M. Whittall.

 

 

PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD

EXPOSÉ AU CONSEIL DE GESTION

 

MR. ANICET ARCAND, PRESIDENT, CUMBERLAND TELEGRAPH OPERATORS’ CLUB

 

The President of the Cumberland Telegraph Operators’ Club, Mr. Anicet Arcand, addressed the Committee.  He expressed the view that allowing the Station Master’s office to be used during the recent Power Show without consulting the Club was a serious omission because the equipment therein, some of which he paid for himself, could have been taken by the public.  He alluded to the fact that the club’s Vice-President, Jacques Emard, was told he had to pay to enter the facility and he questioned whether there wasn’t a better way to obtain the meal vouchers available to volunteers for this event.  Mr. Arcand said he felt there had been both a lack of communication with, and a lack of respect shown to, the volunteers.

 

Chair, Fran Stronach stated that the Museum Board values what the Telegraph Operators have to offer, and will see that Mr. Arcand’s concerns are addressed.  She suggested that, because the Museum has a lot of new staff, City officials find a way to identify volunteers, to prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.

 

Member Malcolm Whittall said it would be helpful if the Board could see a copy of the “agreement” that exists between the Telegraph Operators’ Club and the Cumberland Museum.  He made reference to volunteers, noting that they are very important and to the fact that Mr. Arcand’s presentation has made the Board more aware of this fact.  He suggested some kind of badge could be designed to identify volunteers and Board members for the public and staff.

The Program Manager, Heritage Development, Gilles Séguin apologized to Mr. Arcand on behalf of the City.  He asked that there be a contact person at the Telegraph Operators’ Club to discuss issues and to ensure members are welcome.  He pointed out that the Club has done tremendous work at the Museum.  Mr. Séguin responded to Councillor Rob Jellett’s question by saying that he would be responsible for any necessary follow-up on this matter.

 

Board member Jeannie Smith said that without the help of volunteers, the Museum would be lost.  Mr. Séguin indicated that other museums of similar size operate with as many as 800 volunteers.  He felt there was a need for someone to be responsible for volunteer management.  He stated his intent to recommend this as part of his report on museum sustainability, to be presented to Committee and Council later this year.  Chair Stronach recalled that a similar request was made in 2002, but no action was taken.  The Coordinator undertook to find a copy of the Board’s 2002 letter to City officials requesting the position.

 

After discussing the issue, the Board considered the following Motion:

 

Moved by D. Brazeau, seconded by M. Whittall

 

That the City of Ottawa fund a position of Coordinator of Volunteers for the city-owned museums.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED

 

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

POINTS À L’ORDRE DU JOUR

 

1.                  STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT

L’ÉVALUATION STRUCTURELLE

 

The Board reviewed the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Structural Assessment, Final Report (February 2004), submitted by Dillon Consulting Limited.  The Program Manager, Heritage Development, Gilles Séguin led the group through a site-by-site review of the museum facilities and these were rated on criteria based on health and safety concerns, heritage value and the impact of not acting on the Report’s recommendations.  Messrs Elmer Pilon, Manager, Museum Services and Glenn Charron, Collections Officer, Museum Services assisted the Board in the review. 

 

Mr. Séguin emphasized the importance of this process, noting there is only $800,000 in the capital budget for this purpose.  The priority rating will ensure that the most important and necessary projects are undertaken first and will assist Mr. Séguin in his discussions with Mr. P. Jolicoeur, Manager, Comprehensive Asset Management, Real Property Asset Management Services.

 

The ward Councillor, Rob Jellett, informed the Board that the Long Range Financial Plan Sub-committee has identified a funding gap of $50 million for capital projects, and City Council is under enormous pressure to shrink that gap.

 

The following rating was approved:

 

Name of Facility

Rating /30

 

 

Foubert House

28

Community Hall

27

Knox Presbyterian Church/Hearse Shed

27

Train Station

26

Dupuis House

22

Watson’s Garage

22

Sawmill

20

De Groot Barn

20

Mainville House

19

Bandshell

18

MacMillan Drive Shed

17

Taylor Barn

17

Drive Shed

16

Print Shop

15

Duford House

15

School House

15

Spratt-Grier House

15

Storage Shed 1

14

Somerville–Winter’s Building

13

Levesque House

13

Caboose

12

Pig Shed

9

Blacksmith

9

Fire Hall

7

 

 

2.                  COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT

GÉRANCE DES COLLECTIONS

 

The Program Manager, Heritage Development, Gilles Séguin, requested that discussion on this item be deferred to the next meeting.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

AUTRES QUESTIONS

 

1.                  ACKNOWLEDGMENT – CHAIR FRAN STRONACH

 

Councillor Rob Jellett thanked Board Chair Fran Stronach for her work as a Trustee, a Cumberland Councillor and a member of the Cumberland Museum Board over the years.  He presented her with a gift and a certificate signed by himself and by Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli in recognition of her long service to the community.

 

Ms. Stronach thanked the Board members and indicated that she was available for consultation purposes.  She encouraged the Board to fight to keep the Museum going.

 

 

2.                  ACKNOWLEDGMENT – MEMBER JENNIFER HUNT-BEAUCHAMP

 

Chair Fran Stronach informed the Board this was Member Jennifer Hunt-Beauchamp’s last meeting, as she has accepted a position outside the City. Chair Stronach congratulated Ms. Hunt-Beauchamp on her new job, thanked her for her hard work over the past year and wished her good luck on behalf of the Board.

 

Councillor Rob Jellett presented Ms. Hunt-Beauchamp with a certificate of recognition, signed by himself and by Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli.

 

 

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

ARTICLES SUPPLÉMENTAIRES

 

a.                   CANCELLATION OF THE TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILE SHOW AND THE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM

 

Member Malcolm Whittall raised a concern about the cancellation of the Trains, Planes and Automobiles Show and Summer Camp Program.  Gilles Séguin, Program Manager, Heritage Development, Community and Protective Services Department, indicated that the Show had not been advertised, and that only four (4) families had expressed interest in the Summer program.  The latter was cancelled because the Museum has no capacity to run it.  The Museum has lost staff because of the distance to travel and the lack of public transit to the site and the wages paid.  In response to a question from Chair Fran Stronach, Elmer Pilon, said that only 7 or 8 interpreters remain.  Vice Chair Randall Ash felt there is a potential for summer programming, and he suggested the local population be made more aware of it and that it be offered to local children.

 

b.         UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE CUMBERLAND HISTORY BOOK

 

Vice Chair Randall Ash indicated he has received an inquiry from Laurie McBurney about whether he and Marie Morrell are still interested in promoting the Cumberland History Book in for the Navan Fair and afterwards.

 

 

c.                   RECRUITMENT

 

Member Dan Brazeau asked whether members would be recruited to replace Ms. Stronach and Ms. Hunt-Beauchamp who have resigned.  The Coordinator advised the Board that the Reserve Member Touchette has indicated she would be unable to accept full membership on the Board because of time constraints.  This brings Board membership down to six, including Councillor Jellett, who is a non-voting member.

 

The Program Manager, Heritage Development, Gilles Séguin re-stated his intent to review the existing Board members’ CVs, to ascertain where expertise is lacking.  He also indicated he intends to recommend retaining the Board in an advisory capacity as part of his upcoming report on museums sustainability.

 

After further discussion, it was reiterated that volunteers/persons interested in being more active could do so through sub-committees.  The Coordinator will report back to the Board on her discussions with the Manager, Council and Committee Services, on a possible recruitment in the fall.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT
LEVÉE DE LA SÉANCE

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________                          ___________________________________

Coordinator                                                                Chair